All felt that the punishment was just, and the people hastened to the tabernacle, and with tears and deep humiliation confessed their sin. While they were thus weeping before God, at the door of the tabernacle, while the plague was still doing its work of death, and the magistrates were executing their terrible commission, Zimri, one of the nobles of Israel, came boldly into the camp, accompanied by a Midianitish harlot, a princess "of a chief house in Midian," whom he escorted to his tent. Never was vice bolder or more stubborn. Inflamed with wine, Zimri declared his "sin as Sodom," and gloried in his shame. The priests and leaders had prostrated themselves in grief and humiliation, weeping "between the porch and the altar," and entreating the Lord to spare His people, and give not His heritage to reproach, when this prince in Israel flaunted his sin in the sight of the congregation, as if to defy the vengeance of God and mock the judges of the nation. Phinehas, the son of Eleazar the high priest, rose up from among the congregation, and seizing a javelin, "he went after the man of Israel into the tent," and slew them both. Thus the plague was stayed, while the priest who had executed the divine judgment was honored before all Israel, and the priesthood was confirmed to him and to his house forever.

De følte alle sammen, at straffen var retfærdig, og folket skyndte sig hen til åbenbaringsteltet og bekendte grædende og angergivent deres synd. Mens de således stod og græd for Guds åsyn ved indgangen til åbenbaringsteltet - plagen krævede stadig sine ofre, og dommerne var i fuld gang med deres frygtelige hverv - gik Zimri, der var en af Israels øverster, frækt ind i lejren sammen med en midjanitisk skøge, der var datter af en "stammehøvding for et fædrenehus blandt midjanitterne" og førte hende til sit telt. Lasten havde aldrig før været så stor og indgroet. Zimri, der var beruset af vin, kundgjorde sin "synd som Sodoma" og pralede med sin skam. (Es. 3, 9.) Præsterne og lederne havde kastet sig til jorden i sorg og ydmygelse. De græd "imellem forhal og alter" og bønfalt Herren om at spare sit folk og ikke overgive sin arv til skændsel. På dette tidspunkt fremturede denne øverste i Israel i synd for øjnene af hele menigheden, som om han ville trodse Guds hævn og gøre nar af folkets dommere. Ypperstepræsten Eleazars søn Pinehas trådte frem af menighedens midte, greb et spyd og "fulgte den israelitiske mand ind i sengekammeret" og dræbte dem begge to. Da standsede plagen. Den præst, som havde fuldbyrdet Guds dom, blev æret i hele Israels påsyn, og han og hans hus fik løfte om et evigt præstedømme.